It has been almost seven years since our youngest son Jan Ciryl came into our life. It has also been almost seven years when Jan Ciryl was able to open his eyes and experience the fairyland of exquisite beauty of the world we all live in. It has been almost seven years when we came to know that our precious youngest son was afflicted with a dreadful disease that eventually might lead to his death anytime. It has also been almost seven years when we learned that we could have lost our dear youngest child. Jan Ciryl was born on the 23rd of September, 2003 with a disease called biliary atresia, a disease that is characterized by the absence of bile ducts in his liver in which liver transplant is the only cure. It was very difficult for our family to accept the fact that our precious youngest child will soon die. We went on with our lives...just depending on what will happen in the future will happen. Six years of being in and out of the hospital. He had asthma attacks for almost every month. We also came to a point of telling ourselves that we can not reach our dream...our dream to save JC from dying. We met a lot of difficulties for the past six years, Jan's medical needs, my in-laws business went bankrupt twice, job problems, losing our house...a number of difficulties that made us give up to raise funds for JC's liver transplant.
But God worked in mysterious ways. He has given us a chance to save our son JC from dying. He has helped us to meet people who were very willing to help us in different ways. We were able to raise funds for his liver transplant operation. Though JC has been almost in and out of the hospital due to different complications during our preparation before the liver transplant, we did our best to continue the fund raising with the help of a lot of people from all walks of life. JC had cholangitis, asthma, and pneumonia which we thought might lead to the deterioration of his condition. He also had several blood transfusion and was given albumin several ltimes. We were totally afraid that the transplant would not push through because of these hosptalizations. BUT GOD IS REALLY REALLY GREAT AND MERCIFUL. We have completed the necessary requirements before the operation. We arrived at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on December 3, 2009. With us is the strongest faith and the belief that JC will have a successful operation. Though the operation was a complicated one for JC's spleen was too much enlarged and thus, he had to stay at the Liver ICU for two months. We were only given a chance to see him through a monitor at a room near the Liver ICU for three times 11am, 2pm and 8pm. We saw JC cried in pain, complained that he was having difficulty with a lot of machines and tubes connected to him. That was the longest time of our (Ronnie and I) lives. December 15 (the date of the liver transplant) up to February 18, 2010. JC has spent his Christmas and New Year inside the Liver ICU. He also had chylous leakage then, a condition wherein the two vacuum balls attached to his body for leaks showed that proteins from his body was coming out at the same time. The fluid that was coming out of the vacuum ball measured more than two liters per day which was not good. There was also problem on his nutrition so he had to have a no oil -no fat diet in which doctors had to change his milk to a special one. He also had TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition). Those times were the most difficult part. But because God has helped and touched our family. JC was finally healed and was transferred to the general ward on February 19. A dream that we thought would never ever happen. A dream that we thought was impossible. But our dream really came true...when we first saw JC smiled at us...a real smile of a boy without pain anymore. Truly dreams really do come true. Because with God...nothing is really impossible! And Jan Ciryl was then finally discharged on March 13 from the hospital. All our prayers have been answered...after 7 weeks of weekly check-up, we were told that Jan was okay and ready to go back to the Philippines. Though we had problems with a very huge hospital bill, and we really did not know then what to do...we prayed and prayed and GOD STILL PROVIDED. A lot of people came for help. And thus...Jan is now recovering fast and having check-up now and blood tests every three weeks here in the Philippines.
And because Jan is going to be seven years old on September 23...we would like to give thanks to our Almighty for giving all these infinite blessings...all the blessings beyond measure. We would not be able to save Jan from dying without the help, the guidance, the love, the mercy, and the greatness of our one and only God. And thus...I would like to offer Him this very short poem...
Dear God
Thank you very very much...
Forthe healing and wonderful touch. We are truly happy for your amazing grace,
We lift our hands, Oh God we praise!
Let Your miracle powers be present today,
JC's continuous healing is what we pray.
No words can express our deepest gratitude,
For every miracle You do is always enormous.
Thank you God for the mercy,
Thank you God for the guidance and protection,
Thank you God for the love and healing...
THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING!
And also for those people used by God as instruments into helping us cope with this difficulty and supporting us with this struggle in different ways... I just would like to share an inspirational message to you my dear friends (old and especially the new ones)...from Mr. Albert Schweitzer
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!
GOD IS TRULY GREAT...GOD GAVE JAN CIRYL THE GIFT OF LIFE WITH YOU AS INSTRUMENTS.
MAY OUR GOOD LORD CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MORE BLESSINGS IN LIFE FOR YOU TRULY DESERVE THEM!
MABUHAY PO KAYO!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS JAN CIRYL!
MAY GOD'S GIFT TO YOU...HIS GIFT OF LIFE...BE AN INSPIRATION TO YOU FOREVER!
MAY YOU USE THIS GIFT OF LIFE PROPERLY NOW AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GROW UP!
WE ALL LOVE YOU!
